Over 40 professors and senior lecturers from the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) have gathered at the Federal Ministry of Education to protest the alleged illegal appointment of Prof. Aisha Maikudi as the university’s substantive Vice Chancellor.
The protest, which is ongoing at the Ministry’s premises, aims to call attention to what the lecturers describe as a breach of due process in Maikudi’s appointment. The university’s governing council recently appointed her as Vice Chancellor despite claims of irregularities in the selection process.
According to sources, the protesters are demanding that the Minister of Education intervene by dissolving the council and annulling the VC appointment. They expressed dissatisfaction over the minister’s delay in taking action, especially after he intervened in a similar issue at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU).
One protester questioned why the minister had acted swiftly in Anambra but seemed reluctant to address the situation in Abuja. The group also plans to hold a press conference condemning the ongoing delay in resolving the issue.
The protests follow a December 31 letter from 43 members of the university’s Senate, which declared a vote of no confidence in the governing council over the alleged manipulation of the VC selection process. The Senate members called on the Minister of Education to dissolve the governing council and reconstitute a new one to oversee a fair and lawful appointment process.
The situation has intensified after a violent incident at the university on December 24, where Prof. Maikudi allegedly deployed local vigilantes to disrupt a Senate meeting, reportedly assaulting several professors. The Senate claims that irregularities in the VC selection process reflect the governing council’s determination to ensure Maikudi’s appointment at all costs, undermining the university’s credibility and autonomy.
The professors warn that if the situation remains unaddressed, it could have far-reaching consequences for the reputation of UniAbuja and Nigeria’s higher education system.
